Plural-fuse cut-out.



No. 700,4I0. C' D0RSEY- Patented May 20, |902.

PLURAL FUSE CUT-OUT.

(Application led Oct. 12, 1900. Renewed Oct. 16, 1901.)

2 Sheets--Sheet I.

(No Model.)

NN M. Aw

nr im Un A lll cl2/@Hman Patented May 20, |902.

No. 700,4m.

c. J. nonsEY.

PLURAL FUSE CUT-OUT.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

CHARLES J. DORSEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PLU RAL-FUSE CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters atent N0. 700,410, dated May 20, 1902. Application filed October 12, 1900. Renewed October 16, 1901. Serial No. 78,848. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that l, CHARLES J. Donsnv, a resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plural-Fuse Cut-Outs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to plural-fuse cutouts and cut-out boxes for electric circuits, and has for its objects te insure certainty and efficiency in action whereby vthe circuit is broken and ease and certainty in the renewal of a broken circuit.

The invention consists in the construction herein described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the device opened,two thu mbnuts for securing a fusible section of an electric conductor being omitted. Fig. 2 is a section of the device on aline lengthwise the fusible section, the device being closed and a circuit-making keysupplied in operative sitnation. Fig.- 3 is a partial perspective of a key. Fig. 4L is a plan of the device in modiied form and open. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a partial section of the modified form, showing a key in operative situation. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a detail of the preferred form.

Numeral 1 denotes the frame of a fuse-box of any convenient or desirable form and ma terial to contain metal electric connections and insulating material Preferably 'the frame is provided with brackets 2 for securing it to a car or other structure.

3 denotes a frame to hold a cover e, and 5 denotes hinges connecting the frames to provide that the box may be opened. If desired, the frame 3 may have a casing-plate G.

7 denotes Ventilating-apertures in the cover and its casing-plate. The form and number of these openings is not material and may be varied at pleasure, or they may be dispensed with without defeating the other parts of the invention.

9 and 10 denote wires of an electric circuit secured, respectively, to metal bars 11 and 12 by binding-screws 13 and 14.

15 denotes short fusible conductors connecting the bar 11 with blocks 17, made of con ducting material, and 16 is a key or part for completing the circuit between the block connected with any particular fusible conductor 15 and the bar 12. The bar 12 is forced toward the blocks 17 by springs 18, and 19 are abutments or portions of the non-conducting inclosure, that hold the bar a suitable distance from blocks 17. The blocks and bars may be provided with shallowr concave seats to receive the key when turned to an opera tive situation.

The key 16 has a non-conducting handle, preferably molded on the metallic or conduct` ing part 20, which may be made oblong in cross-section, with its shortest diameter a little less than the distance between the bar 12 and the blocks 17. The electrical circuit is completed by inserting the key through one of the openings 2l in the inclosure or cover and turning it so as to bring the longest diameter of the key part 2O transverse to the bar 12. This puts the springs under tension and insures a good electrical contact.

22 denotes shoulders on the key, one of which, when the key is inserted and turned, as just stated, engages under a bar or flange 23, whereby the key is held in place.

The fuses 15 may be of any suitable form and material. Y 24 denotes binding-screws to providevfor conveniently replacing the fuses melted out. A suitable form is illustrated.

25 denotes a fork to engage one of a pair o" binding-screws, and 26 a hook to engage another. y

The improvement contemplates all suitable forms of fuses, including those made of plate metal, wire, and also fuses inclosed in tubes.

Preferably the blocks 17, the fuse-receptacles 27, and the bar 11 will be iixed or formed, as the case may be, in the body of non conducting material by molding said material in a plastic state and subsequently hardening ite The part of the cover having receptacles 28 which coacts to inclose the fuses can also be formed by molding and ventilating-epenings of any suitable shape .provided therein, if desired.

While it is practicable to make the box of two parts molded from a non-conducting material or composition, other forms built up of IOO separate pieces are not excluded. The frames that surround the non-conducting material are convenient and suitable, but not essential in all cases, and the two parts of the box or inclosure may be connected in any practicable manner, provided they can be practically separated, as by turning the cover.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, a special guard to prevent fused metal being carried by an excessive current from the blocks 17 toward bar 12 and welding the parts together is produced by a suitable groove or depression 29, formed in the blocks. This groove is made to receive a rib 30, formed on the body of nonconducting` material in the cover, and said rib, situated as indicated, is adapted to interrupt the transportation of metal which otherwise might cause the injurious effect mentioned. Obviously theI form and dimensions of the groove and rib may be varied, and it is further obvious that the means herein set forth for obviating the objectionable effects of excessive electrical currents are adapted to provide that fuse-boxes of comparatively small size and weight may be used with safety.

I-Ieretofore the fuse connections made of spring plate and constituting movable circuitclosers have been liable to be partially melted and have also been liable to be welded to the coacting electrodes by the metal blown from a suddenly-melted fuse, and in practice particles of the fuse have also been liable to be deposited and hardened on adjacent connections, so that when such adjacent connections were subsequently put in circuit such particles prevented thorough completion of the circuit, with vthe result that they were rem elted and welded the parts together'.

By my construction the use of a spring or sheet metal circuit-closer is obviated, and a key is used of sufcient thickness to prevent fusion. Further, this key has a wide bearing on the contiguous parts of the circuit, and connection is maintained by spring-pressure in such a way that its functions cannot be disturbedbyparticles of a melted fuse. Ifsuch particles are lodged on the key, it will not be on its bearing portions, and the rotation of the key against springpressure insures a thorough electrical contact when it is moved to complete the circuit through a new fuse.

The ease with which the fuses can be supplied in the box and the ease and certainty with which they can be put in circuit are important advantages. It is also an advantage that the conductors and their connections are iixed in integral blocks 0f non-conducting material and that such blocks can bc made to inclose the fuses and constitute a box therefor. The provision for ventilation permits the ready escape of suddenlyexpanded air, vapor, and gases without injury to the electrical connections when a fuse is suddenly melted or blown The receptacles for the fuses are such as to permit the use of various kinds without inconvenience. The parts are of such form and arrangement and are so combined that small metal pieces other than the fuses are avoided. This and other objections to the rotary fuse cnt-outs heretofore proposed are obviated. It will be understood that any suitable materials can be employed and that the mechanical modiications above mentioned and other like changes may be made, provided the substantial principles oi' operation and construction are not departed from.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. ln an electric cnt-out, a series of fuses, a bar normally connected to each fuse, a second bar adapted to be connected with any fuse at will, a key for effecting said connection, a case provided with a series of keyholes, conducting-blocks adjacent the keyholes for the attachment of the fuses, nonconducting ribs situated in a direct line between the ends of the fuses and said holes, said conducting-blocks being provided with grooves to receive the ribs, and non-conducting material separating the blocks.

2. In an electric cut-out, a fuse-boit comprising separable parts to hold the operativo devices, a series of fuses, means 'for putting said fuses in circuit successively, a rib situated in one part and adapted to prevent transportation of metal upon the burning out of a fuse, and a groove corresponding to the rib situated in the other part of the box, the rib being seated in the groove when the parts are closed.

3. In an electric cut-out, a series of fuses, a bar normally connected to each fuse, asecond bar adapted to be connected with any fuse at will, a key for effecting said connection, conducting blocks or parts adjacent the keyholes for the attachment of the fuses, nonconducting ribs between said blocks and said holes, and nonconducting abutments between said blocks.

a. In an electric cut-out, a series of fuses, a bar normally connected to each fuse, a second bar adapted to be connected with any fuse at will, a key for effecting said connection, conducting blocks or parts adjacent the keyholes having each a fuse connected thereto, non-conducting ribs between the blocks and said holes, and non-conducting abutments between said blocks, said abutments extending from one of the bars to thc other.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. DORSEY.

lVitnesscs:

Jas. B. Hoi-mann, 'ln-ros. C. BAILEY.

IOO 

